Lee sacks advisers in beef row twist

Source: Agencies  |   2008-6-21  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

SOUTH Korea's embattled president replaced his top advisers yesterday in a bid to soothe public outrage over plans to resume beef imports from the United States, while Seoul and Washington officials said they were near a resolution to the dispute.

In a nationally televised news conference, Lee Myung-bak introduced nominees to replace his chief of staff and seven senior presidential secretaries, seeking to make a fresh start for his administration, which took office less than four months ago.

Lee's entire Cabinet has also offered to resign over the beef issue - which has sparked weeks of anti-government demonstrations over health concerns - but the president has not yet said which ministers will leave the government.

South Korea suspended imports of US beef after the first case of mad cow disease appeared in the US in 2003, closing what had been the third-largest foreign market for American producers. Limited imports resumed last year but were halted when bones, banned as risk material for disease, were discovered in shipments.

The two sides "neared a result that can satisfy each other," the South Korean Foreign Ministry said. South Korea will announce details today after Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon reports.